All day long she was kept steadily at work; not a moment was she allowed to rest, except while she was eating. She made beds, swept and dusted rooms, and ran upon errands, until every bone in her slight body ached with weariness and her small feet were nearly blistered.

Her delicate hands had never performed such menial duties before, nor had her gentle heart ever throbbed with such revengeful, rebellious feelings.

It was eight o’clock before her hard mistress released her from her labors, and told her to go directly to bed, so as to be up early in the morning and sweep off the front steps before people should begin to pass.

She went to her room as directed, but instead of retiring, she took from a drawer of her bureau one of the packages of papers which she had rescued from her state-room on that burning vessel, and, weary as she was, she again descended two flights of stairs, and approaching the library door, tapped gently upon it.

64A deep, manly voice bade her come in, and she entered with a firm and decided tread.

64

Mr. Richards was sitting at his desk, engaged in answering some business letters.

Star had timed her visit to him, for she had watched and seen him go into the library after tea was over.

He looked up as she closed the door behind her, and his face relaxed into a kind smile as he saw who it was.

The girl had interested him in the morning by her beauty, grace, and intelligence, but he had been so busy during the day that he had scarcely thought of her since.

He did inquire for her at dinner, but there was company present, and his wife made some evasive reply. If the truth could have been known, she was rather reluctant to inform him what her intentions were regarding the young stranger.

“Do I interrupt you, sir?” Star asked, modestly, but without advancing beyond the threshold.

“Not at all, Miss Star. Come here and sit down; I am just through,” he answered, heartily.

She went and stood before him. She did not wish to sit down; she could say what she intended to tell him better standing, she thought.

“You spoke so kindly to me this morning,” she began, “that I have 

 Prev. P 47/329 next